Commentary: The Hummingbird

Posted by Sussex County Democratic Committee33sc on November 20, 2016

After what I will refer to as “Black Tuesday”, many of us in the County were disheartened that our nation could elect such a person to be our president. The damage that a Trump administration could inflict may be devastating.

The feelings of shock and disbelief that we experienced have turned to determination and resolve for so many visitors to the Sussex County Democratic Committee’s web site. We are grateful and encouraged that so many have expressed their desire to connect with us and do something about it.

When the struggle seems too great, I am reminded of an African proverb that goes like this:

One day a terrible fire broke out in a forest - a huge woodlands was suddenly engulfed by a raging wild fire. Frightened, all the animals fled their homes and ran out of the forest. As they came to the edge of a stream they stopped to watch the fire and they were feeling very discouraged and powerless. They were all bemoaning the destruction of their homes. Every one of them thought there was nothing they could do about the fire, except for one little hummingbird.

This particular hummingbird decided it would do something. It swooped into the stream and filled its tiny beak with as much water as it could hold. It raced to the fire and squirted the few drops into the blaze. Then it went back to the stream and did it again, and it kept going back, again and again and again. All the other animals watched in disbelief. Some tried to discourage the hummingbird with comments like, "Don't bother, it is too much, you are too little, your wings will burn, your beak is too tiny, it’s only a drop, you can't put out this fire."

And as the animals stood around disparaging the little bird’s efforts, the bird noticed how hopeless and forlorn they looked. Then one of the animals shouted out and challenged the hummingbird in a mocking voice, "What do you think you are doing?"

And the hummingbird, without wasting time or losing a beat, looked back and said, "I am doing what I can."

There is much we can do together. In 2017 we will elect a new governor, and afford us the opportunity to control the executive branch and both chambers in the legislature. The Assembly is only two seats away from a Democratic veto-proof majority, and both of our County officials will be up for election. There is an open Freeholder position and many municipal council seats up for election. We can pave the way for progressive legislation in this State.

We will be holding a series of mobilization meetings over the next two months. The next one is on Thursday, December 1. Get connected. Get involved.